The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-29
HOW THE FLAG WAS LOST.
A Sumter County Confederate Has
Story to Tell.
From The -Amcricus(G Ga Republican.

From the 44mcriclGs1 GG) Republican.
l was a regular soldier in the Con
Tolerate army over four years, enjoyed its
triunphs, took my part of its defeats to
heart as much as any one, starved, suffered,
bled, froze and melted in winter and SUM
mer under the glorious cross of the South,
with a heart as full of devotion as a child
could have for mother or a devotee to his
true and beneficent God.
When first 5 arted out from the lovelieSt
town III an adjoining State lovely daugh-
ter OF the city gave Ele Confederate flag,
made of silk, with the bars and starry deco
rated cross shining and cleaning with gold
and silver threads. 1t was a pretty thing,
and carried it hid III an inside pocket, for
it was not larger than a gentleman's hand
kerchief. ! carried it wherever | went, for
] had promised to plant it on the Washing
ton monument if ever got there.
While Lees army was encamped near
Chambersburg, Pa, one June afternoon l
strolled out with Felix c., and about four
miles from camp found a coy retreat in a
cottage inhabited by an elderly lady and
beautiful girl of about IS years We got
good dinner and heard tho ladies deplore
the war, for they had relatives South with
whom they spent the summer every year
until the war broke out. Now this pleasure
was debarred. While they were talking |
went to cool shade and soon fell asleep,
and then Felix, forgetting my presence, left
me. About two hours after | was awak-
ened by the young girl and some one
talking, and found that a wounded
Federal officer was her companion.
They did not know of my presence,
and when they ran upon me l was
! awake and pretty much alive: but as the
officer remarked, He was not in service on
| account of a wound received at Cedar Run,
| 4
pretty good talk ard milk and bread where
we were During the talk l exposed the
| flag, which was snatched by the girl, who
exclaimed eXultantly: II have captured
! rebel flag and intend to keep it." l begged
her for it, but she wilfuly shook her head
| told her it was present from a dear
friend named Matte, and that she should
not have it. Then she said: well, Rebel,
sir! my name is Matte, q good union
girl. l have my hands on the emblem
Of treason, a traitors flag; and I'll
keep it or diel" and her eyes flashed with
fire. II wish | were man." she said, "that
I too might fight | tried to snatch the
flag, but she was too quick, and the officer
said pretty loudly; "Here, sergeant, bring
your men quickln and it seemed as if !
were surrounded by four or five men in blue
uniforms before could turn around The
girl said, "Well, lieutenant, you can keep
your prisoner in the cellar until you and
| your men have tea" and led the way.
| Soon | was locked up alone in a cellar,
wherein there was no security, and the girl
| laughed as she waved the flag at me.
knew that had to get out before supper
was over and as pondered over my posi-
ton, fear began to creep over me that
was to suffer long confinement in Yam
| kee prison After an hour or two an inner
| door opened and Miss Matte, who had stolen
my flag, stood before rue, candle in hand,
saying; 81 guess, Mr. Rebel, that you and |
can come to terms You have no arms, and
/ can trust you. III keep your flag, and for
my love of friends in the South you shall
go free. Cousin Robert and his men are
eating.n
went through the house, found their
arms, and taking off the caps, wet the tubes
| thoroughly, stole a pistol that belonged to
the officer and started for the door while
the young lady was entertaining the soldiers.
| ran thirty or forty steps before they dis.
| covered my absence, when, with a yell,
they broke for their arms. You can bet
there was no shooting, and | sped onward
as fast as possible During my race toward
camp two Dutch guards halted me, but as
| they were some distance off, | replied, 81
don't understand" and kept running. The
| Dutchmen joined the pursuers, but a de-
tachment of Lomax's cavalry approached
and they ran the other way. | have no de-
sire for the return of that flag now, for it
| has been South several times since the war
| and will come again and again.